Man dies in fiery crash south of Victoria

A 20-year-old Bloomington man died in a fiery crash south of Victoria early Tuesday morning.

Dillon Spence, a welder's helper, was pronounced dead at the scene by Victoria County Justice of the Peace Stuart Posey at 6:30 a.m. after the 4:15 a.m. crash, said Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman Trooper Gerald Bryant.

Spence was traveling north on state Highway 185 north of Old Bloomington Road when his 2000 Chevrolet pickup left the roadway, ran into a ditch, struck a culvert and became airborne, according to the DPS report.

The truck rolled and landed on its roof and caught fire. Spence was pinned inside the truck when Victoria Fire Department arrived.

"The occupant was trapped inside and perished in the fire," said Victoria Fire Department Battalion Chief Roger Hempel.

The light fog at the time was not believed to be a factor and the crash is still under investigation by DPS Trooper Ronald Johnson, said Bryant.